-
What is cloud computing from a consumer perspective?
-
Cloud computing provides on-demand resources such as servers, file storage, databases, and applications over a network (usually the Internet), with metered billing based on resource usage.
-
What does "metered utilization" mean in cloud computing?
-
Metered utilization means billing based on the amount of resources consumed, such as storage, processing power, or bandwidth.
-
What is the role of the provider in cloud computing?
-
The provider manages the infrastructure, using virtualization to allocate resources quickly and efficiently to clients.
-
What is "high availability" in cloud computing?
-
High availability ensures minimal downtime, with "Five Nines" (99.999%) availability equating to about 5 minutes and 15 seconds of downtime per year.
-
What is scalability in cloud computing?
-
Scalability is the system’s ability to grow at a manageable cost as more users are added. Horizontal scaling adds more nodes, while vertical scaling adds more resources to existing nodes.
-
What is rapid elasticity?
-
Rapid elasticity is the ability of a cloud system to adjust to changes in demand in real-time, handling more users or workload spikes without loss of performance.
-
What does "resource pooling" mean in cloud computing?
-
Resource pooling is the sharing of hardware, CPU, and memory among multiple customers, allowing providers to efficiently allocate resources without dedicating them to one user.
-
How is virtualization used in cloud computing?
-
Virtualization enables cloud providers to add or reduce resources such as CPU, memory, and storage using software, without physically modifying the hardware.
-
What is a public cloud?
-
A public cloud is a service provided over the Internet by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to multiple customers, often using a pay-as-you-go model.
-
What is a private cloud?
-
A private cloud is owned and operated by a single organization, providing maximum control over resources and security, typically for industries requiring strict compliance like banking or government.
-
What is a community cloud?
-
A community cloud is shared by multiple organizations with similar concerns, such as security or standardization, pooling resources to meet common needs.
-
What is a hybrid cloud?
-
A hybrid cloud combines public, private, or community cloud elements, offering flexibility in managing resources and costs.
-
What is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?
-
IaaS provides virtualized computing resources like servers, storage, and networks through the service provider's datacenter. Examples include Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines.
-
What is Software as a Service (SaaS)?
-
SaaS provides software applications over the internet, eliminating the need for local installations. Examples include Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
-
What is Platform as a Service (PaaS)?
-
PaaS offers a platform for developers to build and deploy applications. It includes infrastructure but requires users to manage their applications. Examples include Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure SQL Database.
-
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical scaling?
-
Horizontal scaling adds more nodes (servers) to handle additional load, while vertical scaling increases resources (CPU, memory) within existing nodes.
-
What does "Five Nines" availability mean in cloud services?
-
"Five Nines" (99.999%) availability means that the system experiences only about 5 minutes and 15 seconds of downtime per year, ensuring minimal service disruption.